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The Last King (2016) movie poster

Characters & Themes

The Last King (2016) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 99 min · Norwegian
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Directed by
Nils Gaup

Amidst the dawn of a turbulent medieval Norway, a seasoned nobleman and a fierce Viking chieftain join forces. Their dangerous quest is to protect the young heir, the last hope for peace, while civil war engulfs the kingdom. Facing betrayal and constant threat, the warriors must demonstrate unwavering loyalty to secure the future of Norway and confront those who seek to claim the throne by force.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Character relationship map
  4. 4 Where & when it takes place
  5. 5 Themes & meaning (3)
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

The Last King Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of The Last King (2016), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Gisle (Pal Sverre Valheim Hagan)

    Gisle is a corrupt aristocrat with a ruthless ambition for power. His willingness to conspire against King Haakon portrays him as a manipulative and cunning figure, reflecting the darker sides of ambition. He is ultimately driven by self-interest, demonstrating how greed can lead to one's downfall.

    • 😈 Villain
    • 💔 Betrayal
  • King Haakon (Benjamin Helstad)

    King Haakon is depicted as a noble yet vulnerable leader, fighting to protect his legacy and lineage in a treacherous political landscape. His role as a father and king adds depth to his character, as he struggles against conspiracies to secure peace in Norway. Ultimately, his tragic fate underscores the perilous nature of leadership.

    • 👑 Monarch
    • ⚔️ Leadership
  • Margaret (Lia Boysen)

    Margaret is a former queen whose ambition drives her to betray the very kingdom she once ruled. Her actions reveal the desperate lengths to which individuals will go to reclaim power. As a mother, her decisions are steeped in complexity, illustrating how personal motives can intertwine with political ambitions.

    • 👩‍👧 Motherhood
    • 💔 Ambition
  • Skervald (Jakob Oftebro)

    Skervald serves as a loyal Birkebeiner agent who finds himself torn between duty and survival. His character embodies bravery and sacrifice, as he navigates the dangerous political landscape. In protecting Haakon and his mother, Skervald showcases the theme of loyalty amidst chaos.

    • 🛡️ Protector
    • 🚀 Sacrifice
  • Inga

    Inga is a pivotal character representing maternal instinct and the fight for survival. As the mother of King Haakon's son, her actions are crucial for the future of Norway. Her resilience and bravery contribute significantly to the efforts of the protagonists against the Baglers.

    • 👩‍👦 Mother
    • 💪 Strength

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 15:42

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6 characters · 7 connections · contains spoilers

The Last King Character Relationship Map

Who is connected to whom in The Last King: family, love, friendships, rivalries and hidden ties, colour-coded. Pick a character to see their side of the story, or a connection to see what brings two characters together.

How much of the story to show
GGisleKHKing HaakonMMargaretSSkervaldIIngaKKristin

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 15:42

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Setting

Where and When Does The Last King Take Place?

The setting of The Last King (2016): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1204

The year 1204 falls within the High Middle Ages, a period marked by feudalism and conflicts among noble factions in Norway. During this time, the dynamics of power were heavily influenced by shifting alliances and betrayals, not only among local factions but also involving foreign powers like Denmark.

Location

Nidaros, Eastern Norway, Sweden

Nidaros, known today as Trondheim, was a significant medieval city and the capital of Norway during the reign of King Haakon. It served as a center of political power and culture, where nobility and common folk alike interacted. Eastern Norway is characterized by its rugged landscapes and historical conflicts that shaped the nation’s identity.

  • 🏰 Kingdom
  • 🌄 Landscape

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 15:42

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3 major themes

The Last King Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is The Last King (2016) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Betrayal

    Betrayal is a central theme in 'The Last King,' where personal ambitions lead to deadly conspiracies. Characters like Gisle and Margaret demonstrate how the thirst for power can corrupt even those in privileged positions. The consequences of betrayal ripple through the narrative, impacting the lives of many.

  • Royalty

    The theme of royalty explores the responsibilities and burdens carried by those in power. King Haakon's struggle to secure his lineage and maintain peace amidst treachery underscores the complexities faced by leaders. The fight for the throne highlights the precarious nature of succession during turbulent times.

  • Legacy

    Legacy plays a crucial role as the actions of characters determine the future of Norway. King Haakon's lineage, as well as the loyalty of his supporters, shapes the direction of the kingdom. The desire to leave a lasting impact drives characters to make significant sacrifices.

Last updated: October 28, 2026 at 15:42

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Movie threads

More Movies Like The Last King, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Last King tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies like The Last King: Perilous Last-Heir Quests

An heir becomes the fulcrum as rival forces threaten a fractured kingdom. If you liked The Last King, explore movies like The Last King in which a child or endangered heir stands between rival factions. These tense historical dramas and adventures combine succession threats, warrior alliances, betrayal, constant peril, and a fiercely fought effort to preserve national unity.

  • heir under threat
  • civil war
  • betrayal
  • warrior alliance
  • constant peril
  • political intrigue
  • Tone: tense, grim, heroic
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically place an innocent or vulnerable claimant at the center of a struggle for power. A hardened protector and a volatile ally must cross hostile territory, expose conspiracies, and survive ambushes while rivals exploit civil conflict. The quest succeeds only if personal loyalty survives family loss and repeated betrayal, leaving unity hard won rather than effortless.

Why they belong together: They share a linear, urgent objective: keep the legitimate heir alive and out of hostile hands. Fast-moving journeys and battles make every alliance precarious, while the succession stakes connect battlefield action to political intrigue and the fate of the realm.

Bittersweet War Movies Like The Last King

Savagery and personal loss give way to fragile hope after the rebellion falls. Find movies like The Last King with the same grim blend of brutal warfare, political betrayal, and fast-moving rebellion. If you enjoyed its heavy emotional toll and hard-earned sense of peace, these tense action dramas pair sustained danger with tragic losses and a fiercely hopeful final resolution.

  • brutal warfare
  • grief
  • betrayal
  • patriotic hope
  • grim victory
  • constant danger
  • Tone: grim, bittersweet, heroic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The emotional arc moves from danger and intrigue into grief, desperation, and violent confrontation. Victories remain costly because characters lose family members, allies, and moral certainty while protecting what comes next. When the threat finally collapses, relief arrives, but the ending carries mourning rather than uncomplicated triumph.

Why they belong together: These films share a grim, fast-moving register in which sustained peril repeatedly interrupts any sense of safety. Their climaxes deliver collective relief, yet assassinations, slaughter, and personal bereavement ensure that the restored future feels fragile, patriotic, and bittersweet.

Every angle

The Last King (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Last King in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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